Sharon – Page 91 – Sharon Lee, Writer

Weekend catch up

We here at the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory have been keeping our heads down and trying to get Useful Things Done. The jury’s still out on the question of whether we’ve succeeded, but one does what one can.

A kind friend gave me a lift to the hair salon on Monday, and was able to extend the trip to include the post office and the grocery.

I finished a read-through of the first half of Diviner’s Bow, and am now in the process of figuring out the second half. Around that, I invoked Google Takeout on behalf of Steve’s accounts and transferred them to that portable hard drive I was never going to use. Every time I think I’m going to cancel Steve’s phone, the two-step verification system produces another reason why I should wait a little longer.

Yesterday, we (quietly) celebrated Princess Jasmine Sprite’s 12th birthday. There was napping in the sun, napping under tables, and napping on the couch, and a pouch of Delectables Bisque for happy hour, after which we all gathered into the living room to view the first episode of Renegade Nell.

Today, I have some chores to finish up. This afternoon, a friend will be coming by to help me put together and position the puppy crate our neighbor donated to the Kitten Project, and I’ll be converting the second bathroom to Club Rook.

Tomorrow, another kind friend will be taking me to Book Club, then to pick up Rook — and I figure that’s all I’ll be accomplishing tomorrow.

Tuesday, I (finally) get to see my PCP — a kind friend is giving me a ride — and hopefully I’ll be given permission to drive myself to, oh, Rook’s meet ‘n greet with his vet on Wednesday. That would be nice.

Otherwise, I’m looking at the list of home upkeep things that need to be done and trying to strategize. I thought I’d been cleaning the rain gutters, but yanno? Maybe not. And I really need help with the front garden and the backyard, which I feel is probably too little for a full-blown landscaping enterprise, but too much for a woman with a hoe.

And, that, I think, catches us up.

I hope to update with Rook photos tomorrow, depending on how he feels about having his picture taken.

Books read in 2024

31 Finders, Melissa Scott (Firstborn, Last born Book 1), (e)
30 When the Dandelions Sing: A Novel, James J. Hill III (book club)
29 Winter Lost, Patricia Briggs, (Mercy Thompson #14) (e)
28 Koalafied for Love, Murphy Lawless (Virtue Shifters) (e)
27 The Time Traders, Andre Norton (re-read) (e)
26 War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-&c-read) (book club)
25 Earthly Delights, Kerry Greenwood (Corinda Chapman #1) (re-read) (e)
24 Wednesday’s Child, Rhea Côté Robbins
23 Hate Mail, Donna Marchetti (e)
22 Comfort is an Old Barn, Amy Calder (book club)
21 Arabella, Georgette Heyer (e) (re-read)
20 The Foundling, Georgette Heyer (e) (possibly I read this once before)
19 Death in the Spires, KJ Charles (e)
18 What Cannot be Said, C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr #19) (e)
17 The Grief of Stones, Katherine Addison (e) (re-read)
16  Witness for the Dead, Katherine Addison (e) (re-read)
15 The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (e) (re-re-re-read)*
14 Hen Fever, Olivia Waite (e)
13 Unmasked by the Marquis, Cat Sebastian (e) ( re-read)
12 A Duke in Disguise, Cat Sebastian (e) (reread)
11 Heart of Stone, Johannes T. Evans (e)
10 West with the Night, Beryl Markham (e)
9   A Song to Drown Rivers, Ann Liang (e) (netgalley)
8   Bookstores and Bonedust, Travis Baldree (prequel) (e) (library)
7   We Could Be So Good, Cat Sebastian (e) (library)
6   Thorn Hedge, T. Kingfisher (e) (library)
5   Wild Seed, Octavia M. Butler (e) (library)
4 In Our Stars, Jack Campbell (Doomed Earth #1) (pre-pub) (e)
3 Legends and Lattes, Travis Baldree (e) (library)
2 Heart of the Sun Warrior, Sue Lynn Tan, (Celestial Kingdom #2) (e) (library)
1 This is How You Lose the Time War, Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (e) (library)

_____
*… I think I may have lost track. I do know I started several books, and put them aside, because I Just Couldn’t. I stress that it wasn’t Them, it was Me. I don’t think I actually finished anything before I finally did manage to settle into a re-re-re-&C-read of The Goblin Emperor, so that’s where we’ll pick up the tally.

Books read in 2024

30 When the Dandelions Sing: A Novel, James J. Hill III (book club)
29 Winter Lost, Patricia Briggs, (Mercy Thompson #14) (e)
28 Koalafied for Love, Murphy Lawless (Virtue Shifters) (e)
27 The Time Traders, Andre Norton (re-read) (e)
26 War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-&c-read) (book club)
25 Earthly Delights, Kerry Greenwood (Corinda Chapman #1) (re-read) (e)
24 Wednesday’s Child, Rhea Côté Robbins
23 Hate Mail, Donna Marchetti (e)
22 Comfort is an Old Barn, Amy Calder (book club)
21 Arabella, Georgette Heyer (e) (re-read)
20 The Foundling, Georgette Heyer (e) (possibly I read this once before)
19 Death in the Spires, KJ Charles (e)
18 What Cannot be Said, C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr #19) (e)
17 The Grief of Stones, Katherine Addison (e) (re-read)
16  Witness for the Dead, Katherine Addison (e) (re-read)
15 The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (e) (re-re-re-read)*
14 Hen Fever, Olivia Waite (e)
13 Unmasked by the Marquis, Cat Sebastian (e) ( re-read)
12 A Duke in Disguise, Cat Sebastian (e) (reread)
11 Heart of Stone, Johannes T. Evans (e)
10 West with the Night, Beryl Markham (e)
9   A Song to Drown Rivers, Ann Liang (e) (netgalley)
8   Bookstores and Bonedust, Travis Baldree (prequel) (e) (library)
7   We Could Be So Good, Cat Sebastian (e) (library)
6   Thorn Hedge, T. Kingfisher (e) (library)
5   Wild Seed, Octavia M. Butler (e) (library)
4 In Our Stars, Jack Campbell (Doomed Earth #1) (pre-pub) (e)
3 Legends and Lattes, Travis Baldree (e) (library)
2 Heart of the Sun Warrior, Sue Lynn Tan, (Celestial Kingdom #2) (e) (library)
1 This is How You Lose the Time War, Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (e) (library)

Life going on

Warning: the following may be upsetting to some folks. It’s always a judgement call, what to tell people, and when. Steve and I have always been as open as possible with our readers, which means that you get the good, the bad, and the sad.

That said . . .

I was scheduled to spend some time with family this week — and in fact did spend some time with family this week, just not as much and not in the way we all would have preferred to see the thing done.

It started out pretty well on Monday. The bunch of us met up at a glass studio in Belfast, spent a couple hours doing glass art, grabbed lunch at the Nautilus, and headed out to Bar Harbor, where family was staying. I followed them in my car. The plan was that I would stay until Friday, and they would stay until the Friday after that.

Once we made base, vacation things — TV, games, talk — commenced. It was while we were all standing around the kitchen, shooting bulls, as one does, when, in the middle of Making a Point, I — folded up. The next few minutes were exciting for everybody but me. From my perspective, one second I was talking, the next, I was looking at the floor tiles and asking, “What happened?”

That was when things got exciting for me. My prize for beeping out in the middle of a sentence was a ride in the ambulance to the island hospital, an overnight in ER, many tests, including CAT scan, MRI, blood tests, cognitive and physical/balance tests. When I was admitted to ER, the Operating Theory was that I had suffered a posterior stroke. By the time I was returned to the wild, on Tuesday afternoon, the thinking was divided between soft “stroke” and hard “stress.”

I also won both the coveted “no driving” and “no alcohol” awards which are mine at least until I can see my regular doctor, on July 9.

Local friends have stepped up to offer rides to my various appointments, including the Great Rook Recovery Run, and the appointment with the PCP.

So, that happened, and things — THINGS — are more or less in-hand. I have been motivated to update my power of attorney and my will, both of which still listed Steve as the Instrument of my Intent, should I be unable to accomplish my Fell Purposes personally.

Now we come to the sad part of this narrative. Fans of Princess Jasmine Sprite, Mousebane, Overseer of the Daffodils, will wish to know that . . . Sprite has cancer. It’s been very aggressive, and she has just started to take pain medication, which is sorta the beginning of the end. For the moment, she still seeks out open windows, sunspots, and laps; is generous in sharing purrs and naps, and is Doing the Rounds. When she lets me know it’s time, I’ll be with her.

. . . and I think that’s probably enough news for one post.

Here’s a picture of Sprite.

Diviner’s Bow available for preorder

Diviner’s Bow, the 27th novel set in the Liaden Universe® created by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, is now available for preorder, in hardcover, from the Usual Suspects. The preorder page includes a book description, for the curious.

Long-time readers will of course recall that Baen puts the ebook edition on preorder somewhat closer to the publication date.

I am still writing Diviner’s Bow — it currently weighs in at just a squeak under 72,000 words — so I guess I’d better hop to it.

Books read in 2024

29 Winter Lost, Patricia Briggs, (Mercy Thompson #14) (e)
28 Koalafied for Love, Murphy Lawless (Virtue Shifters) (e)
27 The Time Traders, Andre Norton (re-read) (e)
26 War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-&c-read) (book club)
25 Earthly Delights, Kerry Greenwood (Corinda Chapman #1) (re-read) (e)
24 Wednesday’s Child, Rhea Côté Robbins
23 Hate Mail, Donna Marchetti (e)
22 Comfort is an Old Barn, Amy Calder (book club)
21 Arabella, Georgette Heyer (e) (re-read)
20 The Foundling, Georgette Heyer (e) (possibly I read this once before)
19 Death in the Spires, KJ Charles (e)
18 What Cannot be Said, C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr #19) (e)
17 The Grief of Stones, Katherine Addison (e) (re-read)
16  Witness for the Dead, Katherine Addison (e) (re-read)
15 The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (e) (re-re-re-read)*
14 Hen Fever, Olivia Waite (e)
13 Unmasked by the Marquis, Cat Sebastian (e) ( re-read)
12 A Duke in Disguise, Cat Sebastian (e) (reread)
11 Heart of Stone, Johannes T. Evans (e)
10 West with the Night, Beryl Markham (e)
9   A Song to Drown Rivers, Ann Liang (e) (netgalley)
8   Bookstores and Bonedust, Travis Baldree (prequel) (e) (library)
7   We Could Be So Good, Cat Sebastian (e) (library)
6   Thorn Hedge, T. Kingfisher (e) (library)
5   Wild Seed, Octavia M. Butler (e) (library)
4 In Our Stars, Jack Campbell (Doomed Earth #1) (pre-pub) (e)
3 Legends and Lattes, Travis Baldree (e) (library)
2 Heart of the Sun Warrior, Sue Lynn Tan, (Celestial Kingdom #2) (e) (library)
1 This is How You Lose the Time War, Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (e) (library)

Ribbon Dance a bestseller!

Bookscan SF Bestsellers, New Books released June 2-8, 2024

#1 Apostles of Mercy, Lindsey Ellis
#2 Mirrored Heavens, Rebecca Roanhorse
#3 The Dark Forest, Cixin Liu
#4 Ribbon Dance, Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
#5 501st Star Wars Legend (Imperial Commando), Karen Traviss

Thanks to everyone who made this possible — give yourselves a hand!

Books read in 2024

28 Koalafied for Love, Murphy Lawless (Virtue Shifters) (e)
27 The Time Traders, Andre Norton (re-read) (e)
26 War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-&c-read) (book club)
25 Earthly Delights, Kerry Greenwood (Corinda Chapman #1) (re-read) (e)
24 Wednesday’s Child, Rhea Côté Robbins
23 Hate Mail, Donna Marchetti (e)
22 Comfort is an Old Barn, Amy Calder (book club)
21 Arabella, Georgette Heyer (e) (re-read)
20 The Foundling, Georgette Heyer (e) (possibly I read this once before)
19 Death in the Spires, KJ Charles (e)
18 What Cannot be Said, C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr #19) (e)
17 The Grief of Stones, Katherine Addison (e) (re-read)
16  Witness for the Dead, Katherine Addison (e) (re-read)
15 The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (e) (re-re-re-read)*
14 Hen Fever, Olivia Waite (e)
13 Unmasked by the Marquis, Cat Sebastian (e) ( re-read)
12 A Duke in Disguise, Cat Sebastian (e) (reread)
11 Heart of Stone, Johannes T. Evans (e)
10 West with the Night, Beryl Markham (e)
9   A Song to Drown Rivers, Ann Liang (e) (netgalley)
8   Bookstores and Bonedust, Travis Baldree (prequel) (e) (library)
7   We Could Be So Good, Cat Sebastian (e) (library)
6   Thorn Hedge, T. Kingfisher (e) (library)
5   Wild Seed, Octavia M. Butler (e) (library)
4 In Our Stars, Jack Campbell (Doomed Earth #1) (pre-pub) (e)
3 Legends and Lattes, Travis Baldree (e) (library)
2 Heart of the Sun Warrior, Sue Lynn Tan, (Celestial Kingdom #2) (e) (library)
1 This is How You Lose the Time War, Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (e) (library)

Books read in 2024

27 The Time Traders, Andre Norton (re-read) (e)
26 War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-&c-read) (book club)
25 Earthly Delights, Kerry Greenwood (Corinda Chapman #1) (re-read) (e)
24 Wednesday’s Child, Rhea Côté Robbins
23 Hate Mail, Donna Marchetti (e)
22 Comfort is an Old Barn, Amy Calder (book club)
21 Arabella, Georgette Heyer (e) (re-read)
20 The Foundling, Georgette Heyer (e) (possibly I read this once before)
19 Death in the Spires, KJ Charles (e)
18 What Cannot be Said, C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr #19) (e)
17 The Grief of Stones, Katherine Addison (e) (re-read)
16  Witness for the Dead, Katherine Addison (e) (re-read)
15 The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (e) (re-re-re-read)*
14 Hen Fever, Olivia Waite (e)
13 Unmasked by the Marquis, Cat Sebastian (e) ( re-read)
12 A Duke in Disguise, Cat Sebastian (e) (reread)
11 Heart of Stone, Johannes T. Evans (e)
10 West with the Night, Beryl Markham (e)
9   A Song to Drown Rivers, Ann Liang (e) (netgalley)
8   Bookstores and Bonedust, Travis Baldree (prequel) (e) (library)
7   We Could Be So Good, Cat Sebastian (e) (library)
6   Thorn Hedge, T. Kingfisher (e) (library)
5   Wild Seed, Octavia M. Butler (e) (library)
4 In Our Stars, Jack Campbell (Doomed Earth #1) (pre-pub) (e)
3 Legends and Lattes, Travis Baldree (e) (library)
2 Heart of the Sun Warrior, Sue Lynn Tan, (Celestial Kingdom #2) (e) (library)
1 This is How You Lose the Time War, Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (e) (library)

While one lives, both stand

Grief puts funny ideas into your head.

For instance, for awhile back in March, I was convinced that Steve had left me — walked out of our partnership and left no forwarding address. I couldn’t imagine why, and spent way too much time minutely reviewing our past, looking for my error.

Then I became convinced that we had gotten done at this house, and were moving on. As has been the case in previous moves, Steve had gone on ahead, leaving me to clean up these last few things before I joined him. This delusion is particularly pernicious because for those of us who speak Metaphor, it’s true. Only it’s not.

Anyhow, it’s been my goal for some while now to find or create for myself a place of gratitude for having been privileged to share so much time, love, and magic; for having had Steve in my life. While it’s certainly a very lonely, hard, and scary thing to no longer have him for back-up, for taking the lead, for producing surprising — and occasionally infuriating — insights — surely unrelenting misery was not the best lesson I could take from our life together.

So, I started looking for ways to achieve, at first, equilibrium. I didn’t expect to leap from misery to gratitude. I expected there to be a process, and backsliding, and all the things that attend the pursuit of any mighty goal.

Steve and I not only shared our mundane lives, but we shared an active and beguiling fantasy life. The worlds we built, the people who live there, the lessons, the philosophies — those also fed the richness of our partnership and informed our mundane lives.

One of the things we said, between ourselves, is that we were lifemates — better together than apart, if not two halves of a wiser, more creative, and more patient being.

I got to thinking about that, about three weeks ago — lifemates. In the Liaden Universe® that Steve and I had built together, lifemates — a true wizard’s match — meant that one spoke for both. The trust in that is breathtaking, if you think about it, and yet — I trusted Steve to speak for me in matters, for instance, of health, if it came about that I could not speak for myself. Steve had bestowed a similar trust on me.

Of lifemates it is said, While one is alive, both stand. That struck me forcefully, especially as there is, in reality, still an Us to be tended, if only in terms of our work together, which isn’t finished yet.

I was still mulling this over as I was wandering through an arts festival a couple weeks ago. I had visited one building, and talked briefly with a silversmith, passed on to buy cat toys, and was walking toward the next building when (Steve) said, very clearly, “Maybe the silversmith could size my ring so it would fit you.”

And I thought — Yes. Maybe she could. And then I would have visible proof, for comfort, and for those moments when the loss looms greater than the memory.

I walked back and asked the silversmith if she would size a silver ring for me. She said yes, and I went home, got Steve’s ring and came back.

I picked up the resized ring today, and — I felt something click when I put it on my finger, and maybe I heard (Steve) laugh.

Below, our rings. The ring on the left is mine; inscribed with Mette, the rune for courage. Made by Phil Jurus, oh-so-very-long-ago. The ring on the right is Steve’s, and I sadly no longer remember the name of the rune for persistence. Also made by Phil Jurus.